The Fault in Our Stars

So, I'm late to the party on this one, having known about this amazing book for a while, but not getting to it. Until now. And, I'm glad that I did because it is - as others, including the critics and award-givers have said - an amazing portrait of illness. It is truly amazing to me how Mr. Green is able to inhabit the mind and body of a young woman, a woman who has foresight and consciousness about herself, and yet one who - for all her wisdom and remarks - is still very young. I was most taken by the banter between Hazel and Gus, and it reminded me of what it was like to be a teenager (albeit, perhaps not as clever or wise as either of them).

But, the portrait that Mr. Green has painted of the two of them, their relationship with each other, and Hazel's with her parents is really great. Typing this, I can still hear the characters, and most of them are telling me that I'm being far to trite, but I'll leave the wonderful dialog to Mr. Green.

I only hope that unlike the sad author Van Houten, Mr. Green finds a way to continue with his writing.